Washington, DC – December 14, 2011 – Highly decorated and 28-year veteran-employee of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), Mirlin Toomer was named as plaintiff in a suit filed today by renowned civil rights attorney Donald Temple of Temple Law. The suit was filed after more than 11 months of verbal and physical abuse by peers and supervisors at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA).
The abuse cumulated when for 14 days a toy black monkey was symbolically lynched. It hung tied with a rope around its body and neck directly across from Mirlin Toomer’s desk, with approval of her supervisor and in clear view of her office colleagues, consisting mainly of white males. Not one employee or manager who observed the lynched monkey did or said anything that resulted in its removal. Ms. Toomer requested its removal and explained the symbolic nature the lynched monkey represented to her and many African Americans. Her supervisor retorted …”the monkey was “not offensive” to me, do you think of yourself as a monkey.” The toy was later removed and photographed by building security.
Ms Toomer finding herself under constant attack and with little effort made to find a resolution by the human resources department or the EEO was forced out of her position in the summer of 2011 for poor performance.
Strangely enough, in 2010 Ms. Toomer won the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency: Certificate of Appreciation; Installation Operations Directorate Outstanding Support Provider; Analysis & Production Directorate Recognition as a P Sponsor; You Make a Difference Award; Special Act Award; and an Individual Cash Award.
“It is outrageous and morally incomprehensible the degree of racial discrimination and injustice my client faced at a government agency whose job is to protect us,” said Donald Temple, Managing Partner at Temple Law.
“These actions cannot be allowed to stand.”
For more information, contact Eric Evans 202-423-2046 or at eric@e-squaredcommunications.com
